- Nikolai Valuev and John Ruiz today had a public training session in Berlin, Germany for their Aug. 30 vacant WBA heavyweight title match-up. In another vacant title fight, the EU heavyweight champion will be decided when Francesco Pianeta takes on Scott Gammer. 

- This Friday on the ESPN2 fight card from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Ct., Jason "Big Sex" Estrada (14-1, 3 KOs), who competed at the 2004 Olympics for the U.S. team, takes on Domonic Jenkins (13-8-1, 6 KOs). According to FightNews.com, the former Olympian is treating this fight as " trap." In the main event, Matt Godfrey (16-1, 9 KOs) defends the NABF cruiserweight strap against Emmanuel Nwodo (22-4, 18 KOs) in an eight-round affair.

- On his own turf, Amid Asikainen (24-1, 16 KOs), of Finland, will headline an Aug. 30 card from Tampere, Finland. His opponent is Brazilian Roberto De Oliveira (13-2, 6 KOs). The bout is scheduled for eight rounds, and is meant to serve as a tune-up for Asikainen, who is set to fight for the vacant European middleweight title later this year against Khoren Gevor. 

- According to promoter Roy Englebrecht, the "Battle in the Ballroom" event this Wednesday from the Marriott in Irvine, Calif. is expected to draw its 22nd straight sellout. The main event pits super featherweights Edgar Fabian Vargas (11-4, 1 KO) and Fernando Quintero (5-0-1) in a six-round tilt.

- Marvin Cordova Jr. bested Derrick Samuels by split decision Saturday night at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. 

- The WBO Oriental title is up for grabs Sept. 14 in Cebu City as champion Michael Domingo (36-14-2, 15 KOs) meets former bantamweight titleholder Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (73-10, 49 KOs). 

- Randy Suico (28-3, 24 KOs) is scheduled to defend his Oriental Pacific title against Nihito Arakawa (13-1, 9 KOs) on a Sept. 20 fight card to emanate from the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

- A Bobby D. Presents, Coors Light and Top Shelf Promotions present "Summer Explosion" on Sept. 14 in San Diego. Flyweights Roberto Leyva (25-7-1, 20 KOs) and Benji Garcia (12-10-3, 1 KO) will collide in a six-round affair, in addition to a super bantamweight six-round fight between Aaron Garcia (8-1, 2 KOs) and Torrence Daniels (10-3, 3 KOs).

- According to FightNews.com, unbeaten Ronald Hearns (18-0, 14 KOs) is set to headline a Sept. 17 event at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. An opponent has yet-to-be-determined.

- The same web-site is reporting that James DeGale, British Olympic gold medal winner in Beijing, has been offered $1 million to fight in the pro ranks. The Olympian is presently unsure on if he will pursue the 2012 Olympic Games.

- The International Boxing Association will investigate claims made by suspended official Rudi Obreja of Romania who alleges improprieties in the process used to give refereeing and judging assignments at the Beijing Olympics.

- The U.S. Olympic boxing team had its worst showing ever in Beijing, with just one medal as Deontay Wilder earned bronze. America recorded a single medal in 1948, however that was a silver.

- Former English amateur boxer Arthur James Bruce is being honored in a photo mosaic, the largest in the world, outside Thinktank at Millenium Point in Birmingham, England. The image was recreated using more than 112,000 photographs.